Automobile signaling device



De.24,1929.. `H,J MURRAY 1,740,777

AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Aug). 5. 1925 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. J.MURRAY AUTOMOBILE SIGNAIING DEVICE Dec. 24, 1929.

Filed Aug. e? 1925 l A IN1/Enron Hb warmur/'qy Patented Dec. 24, 1929UNITED sTATEs PATENT A OFFICE HOWARD JL MURRAY, 0E BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,AssIGNoR To R. 1u. COMPANY, INC., oEEAsT PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION or DELAWARE AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING DEVICE Application ledAugust 6, 192`5. Serial No. 48,560. I

The invention relates to a signaling device l similar devices now ingeneral use and whichc can be readily installed on an automotive vehicleand conveniently coupled to work in unison with the vehicle cont-rolelement so th at the several desired signals may be given automaticallyas an incident of the operation of the vehicle and without intentionalvolition on the part -of the operator; except in those cases where hedesires to give a preindication of an intended change in direction ofthe movement of the vehicle.

.Another object ofthe invention is to providea signaling device forautomotive vehicles by means of which the different Warning signals willbe in the form of iiashing or moving lights peculiarly actuated toconstitute notice impelling devices for quickly lattracting theattention of the person inteided tobe warned by the functioning signaLight signals ofthe class indicated must function sometime in a strongsunlight'and therefore such light must be of such intensity and movingat such rate as will function properly under the adverse conditions ofseeing the same in bright daylight. On the contrary it has been foundthat at night or under cloudy or dark external Weather conditions, abright signaling light is not as effective as a dimmer or smaller light.

Accordingly, another object of the invention lis to provide a form ofsignaling device which will take advantage of these psychologicalconditions and incidentally to rovide a moving direction signalinglightw ich can be controlled by the usual manipulation of the lightingswitchso that when the signal control is actuated .the signal willfunction in the manner best suited to the surrounding light or darkconditions of the environments.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in partobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fully set forth in the following particular description of oneform of device embodying my invention, and the invention also consistsin certain new and novel features of construction and combination ofparts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a View in rear elevation of alamp housing constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention andshowing attached thereto a portion of a license plate;

Figure 2 is a plan view looking down upon the showing in Figure l andwith part of the motor casing broken away to show internal constructionFigure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3of Figures l and 2 looking in the direction indicated by the to form theseveral circuits hereinafter described. e,

In the following description and in .the claims, parts will beidentified by specific names for convenience of expression but they areintended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as `theartl will permit.

In the drawings and first referring to certain conventional vehiclecontrol elements with which the device herein featured is intended tocooperate, there is shown in dotted outlines in Figure 6 the vehicleSteering wheel 10, the foot control service brake 11, the battery orother source lof electric energy 12 and the lighting switch 13. Stillfollowing conventional practice it is understood that the im of theapertures.

manually actuated lever 14 of the lighting switch 13 in its operative orlighting position makes contact with fix'ed contact pointl 15 which isconnected by means of conductor 16. with vthe head and other lights 17and with the license plate light 18, all of which lights arecollectively referred to hereinafter as the car lights, forming part ofthe usual car lightin system.

he present disclosure features the combining in a single marketable unitof all the necessary signal lights and control mechanisms therefor andwhich unit may also be used to support the license plate.

The structural unit illustrated is designed to take the place of boththe tail and direction indicating rear lamp now in general use andcomprises essentially a wide, flat, hollow casing 19 formed of sheetmetal and supported on a rugged, angle bracket 20. Secured to thelvehicle a front depending flange 21 of this bracket provides a supportfor the upper edge of a downwardly and forwardly inclined license plate22 demountably secured thereto by means of bolts 23.

The front side of the casing 19 is designed to provide a horizontallyextending line of spaced apart light apertures 24, each covered by apane of glass or other light transmitting covering preferably red glasslens. These aperture coverings are designed to be illuminated by aswinging beam of light originat# ing in a source of li ht 25 positionedm a casing in the rear of t e line of light apertures and functioning aswill hereinafter be more fully described.

Referring to the showing in Figure 4 it is noted that the verticallydisposed front of the casing 19 defined by the line of apertures is flatat its central portion with each side portion retreating from theadjacent edge of, the central portion rearwardly from the verthe lightwhich is directed n to or through one of the glasses 26 from shininginto thenext adjacent glass. Thesev partitions assist in confining theilluminated area to' that particular aperture through which the lightbeam, at the time being, is directed and thus prevents a glow fromappearing in any other Positioned on top of the casing 19 is a motorcasing 28 in which is contained a reversible electric motor 29 providedwith two reversibly wound field windings 30 and 31, indicatedsymbolically in Figure 6. Positioned in the motor housing and journalledinthe frame 32 of the motor is a vertically disposed shaft 33 geared tothe armature shaft- 42 and this ring together with its associated brushconstitutes an interrupter for interceptingcurrent iow to a flash stoplight here'- inafter described.

The lower end of the shaft 33 is secured to a lamp supporting ring 42(see Figure 5) depending therefrom and extending into the casing19 forcarrying the source of direction indicating light 25. Structurally thislight source-includes an open end cylindrical threaded housing 43, arear closing cap -44 'which-supports a lamp socket 45 for carrying asmall lamp 46. This signal lamp is centered within a parabolic reflector47 threaded .into the forward end of the casing 43. The

lamp is 'arranged to project its light through a focusing lens 48carried by a sleeve 49 in external threaded engagement with the casing43. Electric contact is made between the lamp 46 and the commutator ring36 by means vof a spring contact finger 50 revolving with the same.Opposite vertical sides of the lens 46 is painted black as indicated at5l and 52 (Figure 4) so as to leave a narrow vertically disposed lighttransmitting slit 53 across the optic axis of the lens.

It will be understood from this construction that energizing the motorwill cause it to rotate selectively in one'of its rotary directionsdepending on the direction of throw of the control switch hereinafterdescribed, and that such rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft 33.This shaft in rotating the source of light 25 will cause a thinvertically disposed lightA beam to pass successively across each of theglass coverings 26 from one to the other end of the line of apertures ina direction depending upon the direction of turningof the reversiblemotor.

Positioned above the casing 19 and preferably at the center thereof andin advance of the motor housing is a tail light housing 54 in which ispositioned a combined tail and flash stop light 55. This housing isprovided with a reflector 56 back of the light and with a lens 57' inadvance. of the light lCf) following conventional practices in thisrespect. 1

It is intended that under normal conditions of night driving the lightfunctions continuously as a tail light, and that it be controlled by theusual lighting switch 13 as is usual. For this purpose the light 55 isincluded in a circuit. which traced from the source of energy 12 throughthe switch element 14, the fiXed contact point 15, conductor 16, formingthe car light circuit and thenl through a shunt circuit includingconductor 58 branched from conductor 16, through a normally closedcircuit maker 59 and conductor 60 through lamp 55 to ground.

The circuit maker 59 is fixed to and controlled by the service brake 11and is so disposed that when the service brake is in its normal,inoperative and non-breaking position the circuit thus described iscompleted and the activity of the tail light is controlled solely by thedisposition of the lighting switch 13 as is usual with presentconstructions In addition to its functioning as the usual tail light itis intended that the'light 55 also function as a stop light or slowlight,

and by iiashing rapidly indicates to the driver of a following car, orto a persen in "advance of the car hen the construction is alsopositioned so as Ito be visible from the front of the car, that thevehicle is about to stop or slow downfin its speed. For this purpose theplamp is caused to fiash as an incident of the movement of the brakeaway from itsnormal inoperative position in to or towards its operativebreaking position. For this purpose the brake 11 is provided on thesidey oppositethe circuit maker 59 with two circuit closers 61 and 62normally in circuit breaking position as indicated in Figure 6. Thecircuit closer 61 is disposed on the brake so that a movement thereoftowards its breaking position would shift the circuit closer 61 intoposition to close the circuit through the field winding 30 of the motor,and thus* cause it to rotate in one direction, the direction of'movementin this case being immaterial for it is intended simply to cause theinterrupter to function. In this way the circuit closer 62 completes thecircuit through the interrupter to the light 55.

`Referring to Figure l6 it is noted that thev current suppliedfromthesource 12 is con- CTI veyed through branch conductor 63, circuitcloserv 62, conductor 64, brush 40, 'ring 37, brush 6 5, conductor 66,through lamp 55 to It will be understood from this A,construction thatthe periodic passing ofthe insulating Y block 42 across the brushes 40and 65 inciso f It is required that the stop light flashes be* morerapid than the swingjng of the direction indicating light butthe twobreak connection thus described permits the use of the same shaft fordriving the communicators will cause the lights toflashrapidly.Restoring the brake to its normal position will break both the motorlcircuit and the circuit containing the interrupter, and at the sametime,

, will restore the light 55 to its active position functioning as a taillight, provided of course the lighting switch 13 is in its on position.

The direction indicating light 25 will normally be extinguished AandAnot rotating during the usual forward driving of the vehicle, The lightwill become active and will rotate selectively in the direction in whichthe vehicle is turning or is about t'o turn by a control manipulated bythe operator. This control may be simply a -two positioned manuallyactuated switch mounted in some position convenient to the operator, orit may be a switch controlled automatically by the movement of thesteering wheel 10 or some other part of the steering mechanism as isdisclosed in certain patented structures. Such a switch is indicatedsymbolically `by the pivoted arm 67 (Figure 6). This arm in its movementinv one direction such as a movement to the operators right' makes con-'tact with switch point 68 constituting a terminal of one of the motorfield windings and in this way circuit is closed from the source '12,through branch conductor69, thev right 'automatically to preindicate orindicate a movement of the vehicle to the right will cause the light 25to sweep past the-light aperture 24 from left to right and thus indicatethat the vehicle is about to turn or is turning to the right. Similarlya movement of the control switch to the left will cause theY lightbeamto sweep from right .to left and thus indicate a moyement ofthevehicle or aitnftintended movement of the vehiclertothe f This samemovement of the switch arm 67 "tq either the right or leftsimultaneously closes the light circuit to illuminate the lamp 41irrespective of the position of tbie lighting switch 13. Assuming theswitch to be in its off position,- sh'ownin Figure 6, current supply canbe traced from the source 12, through switch arm 67, contact point 70,conductor 7l,through e bridging plate 72 carried by the switch 13through conductor 73, brush 39, commutator ring 36, brush 50, throughlight 25 to ground. y Under these conditions it is seen that duringy theday time or when the switch 13 is in its off position the full strengthof current from the source l2 is sent through the lamp 46 forming thelight source 25 and the light beam directed through the apertures 24 isrelativel bright. While this bright light beam is desired so that thesignals may be readily seen in the bright sunlight, such a signalinglight is too intense at night time. A relatively dim light functionsmuch better under such Lconditions. Accordingly, the present disclosurefeatures the inclusion in the light circuit supplying the directionindicator light of a resistance 74 biasing the switch 13 so that whenthe switch is in its on position and with the bridging plate 72 removed,the

current flow is traced from the conductor 71, through the highresistance 74, and then through the conductor 73 as previously outlined.l

From this construction it will be seen that the lighting switchautomatically controls the intensity of brightness of the beam whichconstitutes the direction indicating signal.

v By means ofthe device disclosed it is possible to provide a highlyelicient signaling vsystem which may be entirely automatic in itsoperation and'may be utilized without necessity of providing any controlin addition to the vehicle control element already present on thevehicle.v I The operator inmaking a turn to the right or leftautomatically causes the direction indicator to properly indicate thedirection of turn and at the same time the attention of the personwarned is ,attracted by the sudden appearance of' a moving light eventhough the person may not be looking at the signaling device. Similarlythe act of braking the movement of the" 'car in slowing to a stopwillsimilarly warn persons inthe line of vision of the stop light thatthe operator has appliedhis brakes for Some I'eaSOIl.

While I have shown and described,r .and have pointed out in the Vannexedclaims, certain novel features of my invention,.i t -will be understoodthat various omissions, vsubstitutions and changes. in the form anddetails of the deviceillustrated andinA its operation may be made bythose skilled inthe ant Withoutdeparting rom'th'e spirit of theinvention.

Having thus. described my invention, I claimz-f. i

t l, In -a device for selectively indicating one of two' oppositelydisposed directions, the combination of a projector having on one side apluralityof light screens disposed substantially equidistant apart andrelatively close together in a straight line parallel to the di lightfor illuminating said screens, one at a time, and means acting on thelight from said source for`ca11sing the same to rotate about a fixedaxis and illuminate said screens successively and rapidly from one endof the line to the other, and thus cause in effect a spot of light tomove in the straight line.

2. A direction indicating signal device including a projector having onone side a plurality of light screens disposed in line parallel to thedirection to be indicated, a source of light mounted for rotary movementabout a fixed axis to cause a beam of light to move in a plane passing-through said screens and adapted in its rotary movement to'illuminateacting .o n said light source to rotatethe same selectively in eitherdirection. A 3. In a device of Vthe'class described, the combinationwith a projector provided with a plurality of windows disposed in astraight A line to "form a" direction indicator, of a reversible motor,a revolving light disposed to swing a beam of light across and thusilluminate said Windows, and saidmotor operatively connected to thelight to revolve the same and thus swing the li ht beam in eitherdirection past said win ows. 4. In a. signal device, a projectorincluding a housing providedon one side with a plurality'of light'pertures arranged in spaced apart relation in a horizontal line, asource of'light within the housing and mounted for rotary movement abouta vertical axis to swing a beam 'of light successively through 100 saidlight in a horizontal plane, apertures P.from one end to the other ofsaid line, or re- .apart relation in a straight line and 'coacting toform a direction lindicating device, light transmitting coverings foreach of said apertures, a sourceA of light within the housingV andmounted for rotary movement to swing a beam of light about a 4xed axissuccessively through said light `apertures -from one end to the votherofsaid line, -or reverse, and a reversible motor fortur'ning said lightsource Y in either direction.'

v6. In a signal device, the combination of a lampincluding a projectorhousing provided) with a'plurality'of light apertures each confl 120tainingfallight transmitting cover, a source of light withinthehou'sing, said-light source including mea/ns for swinging the `lightbeamf therefrom successively on to -the covers of said light aperture,and a fixed partition disposed between each'adjacent aperture to preventthe light beam While directed on to one of the covers from illuminatingthe; next adjacent cover. 7. In a device of the classJ described, the

combination of a projector including a source of light mounted forrotary movement, and adapted to form a light beam, a plurality of lighttransmitting bodies spaced a art in line in the direction of movement othe light 'beam from said source coacting to form a direction indicatorand adapted to be illuminated successivel from one to the other end ofsaid line, an radially extending partim tions between adjacent bodies`thereby to conlfine the light to the body towards which the beam for thetime bein is directed.

8. In a direction indicator, the combination of a plurality of pieces oftranslucent v glass disposedin spaced apart relation and 1n a horizontalline to form a direction indicator, means for forming a beam of light,and control means operatively connected to the last named meansforcausing the light beam to Swingin the plane of said line of pieces ofglass and thus shine in succession through said glass pieces, one" afterthe other', from one to the other ,end ofthe line.

9. In a direction indicating device, the

combination-of a casing, means therein for causing a beam of light torotate about a con tained axis and in a fixed lane, said casing providedwith a line of light apertures in said plane and disposed to have thelight 30 beam shine thereon successivel from end to end as the beam isrotated to slmulate a spot of light travelling in the direction of therotating beam, and the ontion of the casing in said planeand beyonopposite ends of said Y. line of apertures beingopaque to intercept thelight beam during its rotary movement and until it is again visiblethrough the light apertures. v l

10. In a signal device, 'the' combination` of 40 means for forming abeam of light, mechanism for rotating said means, a direction indicatorincludin a line of light transmitting bodies ldisposed in a portion ofthe path of movement of said light beam, opaquel means 42;"for screeningthe beam of light as it passes f over the remainder of its path, andsaid first 4 named means provided with adjustable means for focusing thelight beam relative to said bodies to cause the beam t6 pass throughsaid 5@ bodies without any substantial spreading from its beam forl lSigned at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this5th day of ,August A. D. 1925. l

* HOWARD J. MURRAY:

